President Donald Trump may have found himself a new pirate crew, but judging by the internet's reaction, not everyone is ready to set sail with him. The White House has taken its social media game to the Grand Line, sharing an AI-generated image of Trump and members of his administration reimagined in the world of One Piece.
The 3 November 2026 post, captioned 'The Mark of a Good Crew,' gave the popular anime's iconic pirate aesthetic a distinctly political makeover. And, naturally, anime fans had plenty to say about it.
The Mark of a Good Crew 🇺🇸 https://t.co/d5yLOOe9x1
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) November 3, 2026
Social Media Has Some Devil Fruit Reactions
The illustration features Trump alongside Vice President JD Vance and other administration figures, with the familiar Going Merry making an appearance. The Straw Hats' beloved ship even gets an unexpected MAGA-inspired makeover, complete with a red Make America Great Again cap.
One Piece is an anime that follows Monkey D. Luffy and his crew as they sail across the seas in search of the legendary treasure known as the One Piece. Luffy, instantly recognisable by his straw hat, dreams of becoming King of the Pirates.
While the administration may have intended to deliver a fun pop culture moment, the internet had other plans. Instead of simply admiring the anime-inspired artwork, users quickly turned the comment section into its own comedy show. One particularly biting reaction referenced the fictional Devil Fruits from One Piece, writing that Trump had eaten the 'Pedo-Pedo Fruit.'
@WhiteHouse Let me guess, he ate the pedo-pedo fruit?
— DaneK (@freeMind106) November 3, 2026
In the show, Devil Fruits are mysterious items that grant those who eat them extraordinary abilities. The Internet's version of it for Trump, meanwhile, referenced the ongoing public controversy surrounding Jeffrey Epstein and his associations with influential figures, including Trump.
Trump has denied wrongdoing in connection with Epstein.
The Irony of Trump and 'One Piece'
Here’s Luffy punching a white racist billionaire https://t.co/AccNQZrTGC
— evan loves worf (@esjesjesj) November 3, 2026
But the jokes were only part of the reaction. Some anime fans also found the choice of franchise particularly ironic, considering what One Piece actually represents. For many of its fans, the series is about a group of pirates who challenge oppressive rulers, expose corruption, and fight powerful institutions that abuse their authority.
Nah, this one is better! https://t.co/WsJnCgGbea
— Maher (@RevMaher) November 3, 2026
One Piece is one of the most explicitly anti-authoritarian manga ever made. It's genuinely vile to pretend otherwise, or to try to use it to represent yourselves.
— Dr. Diana King 🐚🦖 (@TheDJ_King) November 3, 2026
Its fictional World Government, despite presenting itself as the ultimate authority responsible for maintaining order, is repeatedly portrayed as protecting its own interests at the expense of ordinary people. Meanwhile, Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates are hardly the establishment's favourite crew. Their adventures frequently involve confronting corrupt officials, liberating oppressed communities and helping people who have been failed by those in power.
The White House Is Building Its Own Pop Culture Universe
This is hardly the first time the administration has borrowed from the world of entertainment to make its online messaging more attention-grabbing. Throughout 2026, the White House shared several posts incorporating references to popular anime franchises, including Dragon Ball Z, Yu-Gi-Oh!, My Hero Academia, and Cowboy Bebop.
A military-themed video featuring footage from Yu-Gi-Oh! also attracted attention after the franchise's rights holders clarified that they had not authorised the use of their intellectual property and were not involved in its production.
The administration has also ventured into superhero territory. In September, an AI-generated video portrayed Trump as DC Comics' Green Lantern, complete with a glowing power ring and imagery referencing border security and American manufacturing.
Now, with the Straw Hat Pirates joining the growing collection of pop culture references, the White House seems determined to keep its social media feed anything but ordinary.
